PMK advocates total prohibition in India

New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) The PMK, a member of the Indian government, Saturday demanded total prohibition in the country and said even Congress president Sonia Gandhi was all for it. PMK leader S. Ramadoss told reporters here that he and his party colleagues made the demand about prohibition when they called on Gandhi here Friday.

“She volunteered to say that prohibition is in sync with Gandhian values and she appreciated our concern,” Ramadoss said. “She is very much interested in implementing prohibition.”

“(Gandhi) told us that the Congress strictly advised new entrants to the party against drinking.”

Ramadoss cited the “massive campaign” the PMK had launched in Tamil Nadu in support of prohibition.

Asked about the proposal of the civil aviation ministry to introduce wines and beers on domestic flights, he said: “Let it happen, we will protest when it does.”

Ramadoss, who also met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh separately, said he had urged both leaders to initiate measures to remove the concept of creamy layer in the reservation policy for other backward classes (OBCs).

“It is unconstitutional and wrong to implement the reservation policy on the basis of economic status, which the creamy layer suggests it is,” he said.

Ramadoss said the constitution was clear that reservation should be based on social and educational considerations.

He said the prime minister agreed with “our concerns and assured (us) that all parties would be taken into confidence” on the issue of creamy layer.